'Deeply troubling,' concerns raised over Tipperary outpatient hospital transport

Cllr Declan Burgess has issued an update regarding the ongoing situation regarding the removal of outpatient hospital transport services in the South Tipperary area.

Last week, Cllr Burgess penned a letter to the Minister for Health, TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, requesting a reversal of the decision.

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Cllr Burgess has since been in contact with Deputy Carroll MacNeill's office.

In his latest update, Cllr Burgess said: "In response to my recent letter, the Minister for Health’s office has acknowledged that the Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) service operating in the South East region was initially established on a discretionary basis by the HSE in 2013. The Minister’s office also confirmed that the cost of providing this service at Tipperary University Hospital has risen "significantly"—from over €88,000 in 2019 to more than €127,000 in 2024.

While I welcome the clarification that patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy remain unaffected, I remain deeply concerned about the broader implications of recent changes to the eligibility criteria for the NEPT service. In response to a formal query I submitted, the HSE has confirmed that these changes have been introduced due to financial constraints within the hospital budget.

These revised criteria now impose stricter limits, particularly affecting patients under the age of 75 and those not receiving certain treatments. This shift is deeply troubling, especially in a rural county like Tipperary, where public transport is limited and many older residents are reliant on such services to access essential outpatient care.

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What is most unacceptable is that these changes have been implemented without clear communication to patients or healthcare providers, and without adequate alternative supports. This lack of transparency only compounds the difficulty for those in need.
I believe this decision contradicts the HSE’s own stated objectives around equitable access to community healthcare and undermines national policies such as Sláintecare, which strive for a fair and accessible health system for all.

This is not a large financial issue by national standards. A modest increase in the local budget for this service could yield a disproportionately positive impact for our ageing population. I will continue to advocate strongly with the Minister and the HSE locally to restore and expand this vital service and ensure that dignity and access to care are not sacrificed due to budgetary constraints," Cllr Burgess concluded.